Why And How To Become A Successful Shopify Reseller

A reseller is the middleman between a manufacturer and the end consumer. As a reseller, you’re allowed to resell products that you have bought from a manufacturer, to customers in your target market. The reseller or the business owner in this case, buys from the manufacturer at a ‘wholesale’ price, and sells the product at a higher cost – either online or via direct channels.

You can actually expand your online store into many niches without the inventory fees or high shipping costs. That’s why a lot of entrepreneurs can be seen becoming a Shopify reseller.

Why should you become a Shopify reseller?

From easily being able to source a wide range of products to lower business setup costs, there are plenty reasons to become a Shopify reseller. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t think twice before starting your reseller business:

1. Launch and run your business easily

Right after you’ve added some products and content to your online store, you’re all set to start your business as a Shopify reseller. It literally takes no more than an hour to launch your business, compared to setting up your own online store, waiting for the inventory to arrive, setting up of the logistics and other processes.

Most of the reseller processes are automated. This allows you to manage your business pretty easily. You don’t have to ever set aside too much time for things like packaging and shipping of orders.

2. Zero inventory costs and lower financial risks

A reseller doesn’t have to carry inventory. You can use other dropshipping apps to resell goods without having to buy bulk products in advance. This way, you only pay for goods as a customer purchases them from your store. With a zero inventory cost, you can actually focus on using the resources to market your online store and drive more customers to it.

As a reseller, you also get to enjoy lower shipping fees. It’s perfect for the new and budget conscious entrepreneurs who want to take every step carefully!

3. Create a multi – niche online store easily

As a reseller, you get to choose from a wide range of products from different manufacturers. For instance, if you resell clothes to begin with, you can grow your business easily and start reselling shoes and handbags as well. Adding more products to your store isn’t a problem in this case as you pay for a product only when customer purchases it.

What’s more? You can also choose to sell different brands to your customers.

4. Set your own profit margins

A reseller is free to define their own margins while reselling products on their online store. Since the cost at which you purchase a product is low, you can choose to price it according to the buying capability of your target market. The higher you set the price, the more margin you make. But at the same time, keeping the consumer’s interest in mind can get you higher purchase orders that will still add to the profit of your online store.

How to sell more as a Shopify reseller

The primary goal of a Shopify reseller, is to make more money from their online store. But just as in any business, there are several factors and different strategies that you need to implement in order to be successful. You still need to create a brand that sticks amongst the consumers and remains profitable throughout the year.

Here are some strategies that always work:

1. Smarter product pricing

A typical consumer has the choice to buy from at least 10 stores while looking for a specific product. That’s where the pricing plays its part in grabbing their attention. While a lower price may get you more customers, it may hamper the profits you make. That’s why your product price should not just cover the cost of the goods. It should include the cost of marketing, setting up your online store and any other expenses that you made to grow your online store.

2. Leverage social media advertising

According to MarketingSherpa, 95% of online adults aged between 18-34 years are more likely to follow a brand on social media. This clearly makes social platforms like Facebook and Instagram an effective marketing channel for your reseller business.

Create a business page for your reseller online store and run targeted ads to promote your products. If you’re running a sale on your store, let your customers know of the discounts you’re running or promote special discount coupons.

Startup Drugz for example, promotes their apparel to their fans using Facebook ads actively.

3. Use content marketing

Since you don’t have to invest heavily into inventory, it is a good idea to keep up with digital marketing trends to keep your online store ahead of competition. Try creating lookbooks around the products you’re offering, create quick videos around them to showcase how they look or collaborate with influencers to find news ways to present the products to your target market. It’s a great way to build your brand and following in any niche you pick!

4. Create a mobile community

Here’s a fun fact. 39% of consumers have at least 2 retail apps on their phone and 27% have up to 5. The reason being, they prefer shopping on the go! As a matter of fact, if you have an app for your online store, 286% more products are browsed. That’s why having a mobile community is so important!

While setting up your online store will open your reselling business to a global market, having an app will get you an engaged community of customers who keep coming back to your store for purchases. And with a smart Shopify mobile app creator, it would take no more than 10 minutes to take your very own mobile app, live.

For example, the Sniper Gang Apparel, created a mobile app for their Shopify store. They drove 30k app installs in less than 4 months, reinstating how their consumers were almost waiting for it! (Check out their case study here)

Getting started as a Shopify reseller

Now before you jump in and become a Shopify reseller, here are a few things you need to answer for yourself:

What target market are you planning to reach out to?

What products do you want to sell on your store?

Are there any brands that your target market is biased towards?

How much resources do you have to market the products on digital channels?